The fight isn't over

What's Next:

• Attend the March 24th City Council meeting located at the Castle Pines Library event space @ 6:30 pm. Wear white to show your support of thoughtful growth for our city. 

• Read the agenda and city packet and voice your support for Resolution No. 26-23 which will be voted on at this meeting. 

• Demand thoughtful growth for future annexations! 

  • • 36–38% open space minimums

    • fiscal neutrality

    • no flagpole annexations

    • binding wildlife/traffic/school protections

    • longer period to draft the policy (120 days vs. an aggressive 90 days)

    • or, any important criteria that matters to you for future annexations!

Background

As of March 19, 2026, the applicant (VT Crowfoot Valley Landco, LLC) voiced their intention to withdraw the Crowsnest annexation petition if Resolution No. 26-23 is approved. This resolution directs city staff to develop an Annexation Policy—to guide future applications and ensure they align with our community's values.

WHY EVERY CASTLE PINES RESIDENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED

(1) Unfortunately, the language in Resolution 26-23 seem highly favorable to the Crowsnest property itself.

The "WHEREAS" clauses include: 

• "the proposed Crowsnest Annexation Properties and surrounding areas will be urbanized and developed in the future"

• "designation of the Crowsnest Annexation property for urban development is an appropriate and logical expansion of area growth patterns"

• "can be developed in a compatible manner with surrounding land uses"

• "reflects the changing conditions in this area of northern Douglas County"

• "can be appropriately developed through future detailed review and phasing"

These are not neutral statements —they seem to pre-judge the Crowsnest site as desirable for annexation and high-density urban development, aligning closely with the developer's narrative. This could bias the future Annexation Policy criteria or staff recommendations, making re-application easier and harder to oppose on substantive grounds (e.g., open space, density, fiscal impact).

(2) Aggressive 90-Day for Draft Policy.

Section 1 directs staff to draft and present an Annexation Policy to Council within 90 days of the resolution's effective date (March 24, 2026 → draft due by ~June 22, 2026). Public engagement is only promised "later this year" if approved—potentially after the draft is already shaped.

(3) No mandate for Specific Policy Elements. 

No mention of minimum open space %, density limits, school/traffic/fiscal impact thresholds, wildlife protections, or prohibitions on flagpole annexations. All concerns that were raised in opposition to the Crownest Annexation by hundreds of residents in Castle Pines.

(4) Tactical/Temporary Withdrawal. 

Council "acknowledges and consents" to the March 19 withdrawal "consistent with City Council’s direction to defer annexation consideration until an Annexation Policy is developed." This implies the withdrawal is tactical/temporary, tied directly to policy development—reinforcing concern that re-application is expected and could be facilitated once the policy exists.

Stay Informed:

• Watch for PAAC communications via email and the Facebook site on opportunities to provide input on the new Annexation Policy later this year.

• Continue following PAAC updates—we'll keep fighting to protect Castle Pines.

Let's keep the momentum!

Show up on March 24th, help shape the new Annexation Policy with fierce clarity, and make certain that every future decision honors the open spaces, wildlife corridors, small-town heart, and quality of life we refuse to surrender. This is not the end of the fight—it's the beginning of a stronger, more resident-led Castle Pines. 

We're not done; we're just getting started.

Thank you to everyone who signed letters, attended meetings, shared the Red County Blue State podcast, and spoke up—your efforts created this moment.

 Why this should alarm every taxpayer in Castle Pines:

Get up to date information from the City of Castle Pines' website:  Crowsnest Annexation Petition. 

 "Residents cited a herd of 100-150 elk that uses the land as a winter migration corridor, invoking Governor Polis's Executive Order D-2019-011 protecting big game routes."